When you are pitching your book project to literary agents, the first thing you will send over is a query letter. With this letter (usually an email, but in letter form), you are “querying” to see if they would be interested in hearing more about you and your book. Your query letter introduces them to your book, the potential readers of your book, and you and your qualifications as an author.
To begin with, query letters should not be longer that a single page, single spaced. (Usually less than 450 words, but the number of words is less important than the quality of them.)
Now let’s get into the structure:
The intro, or “housekeeping” – Your book’s genre, word count (if you’re writing fiction), and title. You can also personalize this section by explaining why you are reaching out to this particular agent/editor. While this section is necessary to pass along specific information, you can also inject a bit of flair here.
The “hook” – A description of your story, major plotlines, and character development. Usually about 150-300 words. Who is your main character? What journey is she on? If you’re writing a nonfiction book, present your main argument and supporting ideas. is not supposed to be a summary of every single thing – that you can be saved for the synopsis.
The bio – An introduction to you, and any relevant information that speaks to your qualities as a writer. (If you have an MFA, mention it, but if you are a retired FBI agent and are writing a thriller, your job history is absolutely relevant.) Mention any publication credits, special research you’ve done (if you spent a year in the jungle and your book is set in the rainforest, for example), and any major awards you’ve won.
The closing – your thank you.
Make sure that you do your research, both for the agents/editors to whom you are going to send your book, and how they want to receive your book (this information is generally on the agency/company’s website). Some agents want you to send your first 30 pages immediately, some want to request it based on your query. Depending on the size of the company you are reaching out to, hundreds of queries might be received every day. Don’t risk having yours ignored just because you send an unsolicited attachment.
Questions about pitching your project? Think you’re ready to start querying? Let me know in the comments below.